Chapter 85: Rose's Curiosity

At that moment, a sudden ignition flared across the battlefield—"supernatural fire" erupted on the corpses of the slain monsters. The crimson flames surged violently, leaping from carcass to carcass, and in the blink of an eye, transformed the area into a blazing sea of fire. The inferno roared, its crimson tongues happily dancing and licking at the scorched remains. But under Akira's precise control, the fire stopped just short of the shimmering magic stones embedded within the monsters' remains. Then, with a sweep of his hand, a controlled whirlwind swirled around him, gracefully lifting each untouched magic stone into his outstretched bag, while simultaneously clearing away all traces of the brutal skirmish. With the battlefield now indistinguishable from any other part of the Large tree maze, Akira folded his arms, gave a small nod of satisfaction, and quietly turned to leave. By the time the sun had dipped lower in the sky, casting long golden shadows, Akira resurfaced on the ground at precisely 5 PM. The guild's reception counter stood right in front of him, familiar and unchanging. But today, he had no intention of submitting the commission assigned by Hephaestus. Instead, he opted for a simple transaction—exchanging the magic stones collected throughout the day for some extra Valis. Even though the Guild was considered a neutral organization, generally aligned with the Order Familias... Akira remained cautious. After all, neutrality didn't guarantee purity. It wasn't impossible that Evilus sympathizers had quietly infiltrated the guild's ranks. For that reason, he decided to avoid mentioning anything about the commission—especially not the discovery of the Kaensekis. Even if all it took was a harmless white lie to get the Guild's reward, discretion was best. "Adventurer Akira, your magic stones have been exchanged for Valis." The werewolf receptionist, Rose, placed a moderately filled bag of currency in front of him with professional composure. So this is the rumored [Morning Star], the one who broke records with his level-up speed? Rose couldn't help but glance at him, a flicker of curiosity passing through her golden eyes. He looks... surprisingly youthful. Is he really as strong as the reports say? "Mm, thank you. I appreciate your help, Miss Clerk." Akira replied politely, accepting the bag with a grateful nod before turning toward the guild entrance. "Hmm... he's a polite child, just like his alias implies. But appearance-wise, there's nothing too eye-catching." Rose mused quietly. "What's wrong? You've been staring at his back for a while now. Don't tell me you've fallen for him?" A nearby female staffer teased as she approached, tapping Rose playfully on the shoulder and following her line of sight. Rose's fluffy ears twitched ever so slightly. She turned to her colleague and calmly pushed her face aside with a gentle hand. "I was just thinking that Morning Star seems like a well-mannered child. Stop spouting nonsense." "Aww, c'mon. You've been staring at that adorable little face for so long. Don't hide it—just confess already!" The other clerk giggled in amusement, whispering excitedly. "Oh gods..." Rose sighed, looking utterly exasperated. Why is it that every time something involves Morning Star, it always leads to some kind of unnecessary trouble? As night approached, warm light painted the streets of Orario in a radiant glow. When Akira returned to the Stardust Garden, the soft sounds of footsteps guided him toward the hall—where he found Astraea standing gracefully, gently drying her brown hair, water droplets still sliding down her slender neckline. "Astraea-sama, why are you taking a bath so early today?" Akira asked as he removed his arm guard, making his way to the counter and rinsing his hands under the faucet. Astraea lowered the towel and met his gaze with a smile. "Oh, I just felt like freshening up while I had some free time. Why? Is Akira perhaps hoping to bathe together with me?" With a sly glint in her eyes, she raised a hand to her mouth and let out a soft, mischievous chuckle. "Haha, is that an invitation? Then I guess you'll have to visit my place next time, Astraea-sama. " Akira replied with an equally playful tone. From his [Backpack], Akira retrieved a new item—a dazzlingly crafted sword—and gently set it on the table. Then, as if the earlier banter hadn't fazed him in the slightest, he moved closer, reached out to touch her damp hair, and asked, "Shall I help you dry your hair, Astraea-sama?" Astraea blinked in mild surprise, then tilted her head with a tender smile. She brushed her long locks to one side to make things easier for him and nodded. "Mhm, please do." Whether she was replying to his question or just indulging his kindness—neither of them cared to clarify. Akira lifted a silky strand of her hair and brought it close. A faint, calming fragrance floated into his nostrils. Then, activating his magic with a subtle motion of his right hand, he created a warm breeze that passed gently through her cascading locks, drying them with a lover's care. "Is this... a magic sword?" Astraea asked as her eyes turned to the fiery red dagger lying on the table. Crafted with exquisite precision, the blade was wrapped in thick, tanned leather made from a special monster material. It measured about one foot in length, its surface shimmering with a stream of crimson light. Even without testing it, any seasoned adventurer could tell the elemental affinity just by looking at it. This was fire magic—pure, volatile, and deadly. Astraea wasn't surprised by the magic sword's properties, but by who had brought it home. "Ah, that's the reward I received from Tsubaki, the Captain of Hephaestus Familia." Akira replied nonchalantly as he brushed the other side of her hair. "Though, to be honest, it feels like she gave it to me for free—probably to thank me for handling her commission." "It sounds like something unusual happened during that job. Care to tell me what it was?" Astraea's voice was gentle but curious. Sliding his fingers carefully through her hair, Akira confirmed it was now dry. Then, after downing the tea on the table in a single gulp, he began recounting the details—everything he had seen and experienced. He even drank from Astraea's cup, but the goddess in question didn't mind in the slightest. As he spoke, she quietly poured more black tea for them both, her expression growing solemn. "I see... I'll discuss this matter with the other gods." Astraea said, brows furrowed. "If Evilus truly plans to use Kaensekis in an attack, we must begin preparing for the worst." "I understand. I'll also inform Finn and Tsubaki tomorrow." Akira rose from the sofa, stretching slightly as he prepared to take a shower and wash away the residual battlefield scent clinging to him. "Then I'll head back to my room for a bath." "Akira." Astraea called softly, her voice stopping him mid-step. He turned to look at her, answering with a soft an questioning "Hm?". Astraea stepped forward, brushed her fingers across his cheek, and then leaned in. Her lips met his gently. After the fleeting kiss, she parted with a smile and said, "That's your reward for today. I'm not one of those gods who only know how to demand love..." "But I think I'm turning into someone who only wants more of it." Akira thought silently as he looked into the warm affection radiating from her eyes. — — — Now dressed in loose, comfortable clothes, Akira dried his hair with a towel before using his magic again to produce a gentle stream of warm air to finish the task. "So, who do you plan to give this magic sword to?" Astraea asked. She gently picked up the dagger and admired its craftsmanship as she slid her finger across the blade's surface. "Well..." Akira paused for a moment. "Astraea-sama, would you like to keep it for self-defense? If you want it, it's yours." He knew full well that despite Astraea's impressive martial prowess, her sealed Arcanum had reverted her body to that of a mortal. It would be a lie to say he didn't worry. But Astraea simply smiled, her voice tender. "No need. You decide who gets it. After all, I know you'll protect me when danger comes." "Of course." Akira said softly. No matter what I face... I'll always stand in front of you.